SCHENECTADY, N.Y. - The Union College softball team dropped both games of its conference doubleheader to Rensselaer on Friday afternoon at Alexander Field.

GAME 1: Rensselaer 14, Union 5

Sophomore Carra Cleaves led Union at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI. Junior Sam Rose, along with sophomore Kyla Springer and junior Sophia Burynski, each added an RBI.

Rensselaer jumped out quickly, building a 4–0 lead in the first inning. Sydney Speanburg opened the scoring on an RBI single by Callista Adorno, who later came around to score on a double by Olivia Termi. The Engineers tacked on two more runs in the frame when a throwing error allowed Addison Shaffer and Termi to score.

Union answered in the bottom half of the inning, as Cleaves crossed the plate on a double by Springer to make it 4–1. Rensselaer added another run in the second when Gaby Heim scored on a fielder's choice by Adorno, but Union responded again with sophomore Sammy Fenigstein scoring on an RBI single from Rose to cut the deficit to 5–2.

The Engineers extended their lead to 6–2 in the third inning on another throwing error that brought Shaffer home. After a quiet stretch, Union chipped away in the fifth when Cleaves scored her second run of the game on a double by Burynski, making it 6–3.

Rensselaer broke the game open in the sixth, plating four runs. Heim scored on a single by Adorno, Evann McDowell and Speanburg came home on a two-RBI single by Termi, and Adorno later scored on a sacrifice fly by Maddy Brooks. Union responded in the bottom half with two runs of its own, as Fenigstein scored on a throwing error following a bunt by Amelia Ormond and sophomore Amy FitzPatrick added another on an RBI groundout by Cleaves, trimming the deficit to 10–5.

The Engineers put the game away in the seventh, adding four more runs. Speanburg scored on an RBI single by Adorno, McDowell crossed the plate on a single by Termi, Adorno scored on a sacrifice fly by Shaffer, and Termi capped the scoring on an RBI single by Brooks to seal the 14–5 final.

GAME 2: Rensselaer 3, Union 1 

Senior Ellie Wintringer went 3-for-3 with the team's only RBI. Rose went 2-for-4 and was the only other player with multiple hits while Cleaves went 1-for-3 and scored in Union's only run.
Union struck first in the opening inning when Cleaves scored on an RBI single by Ellie Wintringer to give the visitors an early 1–0 lead.

However, Rensselaer responded in the fifth inning, taking control of the game with a two-run frame. Speanburg and Kylie Grabler both scored on a two-RBI single by Adorno, putting the Engineers ahead 2–1.

The Engineers added an insurance run in the seventh inning when Speanburg scored again, on an RBI double by Adorno, extending the lead to 3–1. 

Union returns to action Saturday for a conference doubleheader and its Senior Day against Skidmore set for 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm.